Why does Perth stand alone? Interviews with subject matter experts about the drivers of settlement in Western Australia

• Published in: Australian geographer Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 183 - 200
• Main Authors: Wilkinson III, George S., Haslam McKenzie, Fiona, Bolleter, Julian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sydney Routledge 03.04.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Capital cities; Centralization; Decision makers; Decision making; Decision theory; Dominance; Economic geography; Experts; Geography; Infrastructure; institutional economics; Interviews; Perth; Political institutions; Power; Primacy; regional development; Settlement patterns; Urban primacy; Western Australia; Australia

Australian non-capital cities are overshadowed by their state capitals. High state-level urban primacy is especially true of Western Australia. Various theories in economic geography might explain the west Australian settlement pattern. Few are grounded in the experience of those with power over and...